From: Richard Shapiro <shapiro@Think.COM>
Date: Tue, 8 Jun 93 17:33:32 EDT
Message-Id: <9306082133.AA20395@zeus.think.com>
To: et-people@Athena.MIT.EDU
Subject: more on the INTERNET


This whole thing illustrates one of the problems with e-mail. A false rumor
can get out of hand very easily. Actually, the problem is not unique to
e-mail, it is true for any mass media. Look at what happens when a false
rumor is started on the NBC nightly news, for example. The main difference
is that mass media usually has a slightly higher verification threshold
than the internet seems to. 

This is not to propose censorship, but to plead for caution in forwarding
potentially inflammatory messages.  I don't doubt that Steve Wolfe probably
has lost a day or two dealing with this rumor.

Just suppose someone sent a rumor to a whole bunch of mailing lists at
Athena saying something ridiculous like "ET is infested with rats and
snakes. Nobody in their right mind would live there..."  Even if a
retraction comes soon after, not everyone will see it, (since some will
have been told by there friends) and a great deal of damage could be done
to a reputation.  

Just some food for thought... (I'm glad I didn't forward this within
Thinking Machines).

	Rich